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Grand-Am: Riley unveils images of third-generation Daytona Prototype

August 31, 2011

Riley's third-generation Daytona Prototype for Grand-Am.

Grand-Am on Thursday revealed images of the Riley Mk XXVI Daytona Prototype, the first car designed to meet the DPG3 regulations.

The race series developed the DPG3 regulations to offer more potential for brand character and design. Grand-Am approved designs from Coyote, Dallara and Riley, but Riley is the first to produce images of its new car.

The photo shows a smaller greenhouse around the driver as well as changes that fit new regulations calling for a more upright nose and higher tail.

"We are excited to finally show our new DP car to our many fans and to our customers," said Bill Riley, vice president of Riley Technologies. "This image is an artist's impression created from our [computer-aided design] CAD models. The real thing is well on path for testing in the fall using the Grand-Am testing plan. And the best thing about this new generation is, keeping with the plan of Grand-Am since the beginning, the new car carries over much of the existing suspension, drive train, electronics, and other systems."

The new Riley DP G3 can accept any approved engine built by Chevrolet, Ford, BMW or Porsche.

"Today is an important day in the history of Grand-Am," said Tom Bledsoe, president of Grand-Am. "With this first image of the first Daytona Prototype built to G3 specifications, we can show our future more clearly. It is our intent that the DP category will transition completely to the new G3 architecture by the end of 2012. We feel this new Riley and the other G3 products which will be unveiled soon will entice our current customers to update their cars now, along with attracting new competitors to join with Grand-Am and NASCAR."

Teams will have three chances to test the Riley DP G3 at Daytona International Speedway in November, December and January. The car will make its racing debut on Jan. 28-29 in the 50th-anniversary running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.